Tappa ZukieTappa Zukie In Dub

Another lost treasure. Originally released in 1976 in a pressing limited to a mere 300 copies it features dub versions and instrumentals of the rhythms that launched Zukie's career, such as the great MPLA (Dub MPLA) and Pick Up The Rockers (Pick Up The Dub). All mixed in fine style by Phillip Smart, a.k.a. Prince Phillip, at King Tubby's studio in Waterhouse

Whilst Tappa is best known these days for his productions with the likes of Dennis Brown, Beres Hammond (Putting Up Resistance), Yami Bolo and others, in the mid-to-late seventies he was a dee-jay force to be reckoned with, scoring many big hits for Bunny Lee, Yabby U, Clem Bushay and his own Stars label, on which he also released sides by Junior Ross & The Spear, Prince Allah and even Horace Andy. Tappa Zukie in Dub was first released as a limited edition album in 1976 and was ripe for a reissue, gathering together all his big rhythm tracks of the period. These include recuts of Studio One classics such as Joe Frasier [Ras Allah's Bosrah], Please Be True [Ronnie Davis' No Weak Heart], Declaration of Rights [Junior Ross & The Spear's Judgement Time] and Pick Up The Pieces and Freedom Blues which Tappa voiced as Pick Up the Rockers and MPLA respectively. Rush I Some Dub and Cool This Dub are both cuts to Linval Thompson tunes originally produced by Bunny Lee whilst Loving Dub is a version to Slim Smith's Give Me A Love. As an additional bonus, the CD includes dub mixes to two further Junior Ross songs not on the original album in So Jah Jah Say and Send Me Over There. Musicians playing on the tracks include Sly & Robbie from their Revolutionaries' days, alongside Earl 'Chinna' Smith, Ansel Collins, Gladdy Anderson, Noel 'Skully' Simms, Bobby Ellis and 'Deadly' Headley Bennett; all luminaries of the era. Throughout, the sound quality is immaculate, capturing the deep, resonate basslines and sizzling drumplay of real Jamaican Dub music in all its former glory. Furthermore, this reissue is a masterpiece of presentation, from the always innovative Intro artwork, to the full-length, absorbing and quote-laden sleevenotes by Blood & Fire co-founder Steve Barrow himself. It's an object lesson in how to repackage classic revival music, and maintains Blood & Fire's already formidable reputation for setting new standards in this field. Make no mistake, Tappa Zukie In Dub was deserving of such lavish treatment on merit, and will prove an essential addition to any serious reggae fan's oldies collection. John Massouri - Echoes, October '95